'Zimbabwe blocked Election Observer Mission from presenting final report in the country'

The European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) has accused the government of impeding the presentation of its final report on the August 2023 election by imposing onerous restrictions on the delegation. The delegation, as part of its mission duties, had planned to travel to Zimbabwe to present the final election report and engage with various political stakeholders.

In response to the government's invitation, the EU dispatched an election observer mission in July. However, the government reacted strongly to the observer mission's report, which raised doubts about the legitimacy of the August general elections that secured Mnangagwa's second and final term.

During a presentation of the final report in Brussels, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, the head of the EU EOM delegation, stated that the government exhibited a lack of political will to permit the mission's entry into the country. Castaldo explained that the EU EOM was scheduled to return to Zimbabwe three months after the elections to present the final report, discuss conclusions and recommendations with local stakeholders, and explore possible cooperation.

Despite prior arrangements between the EU delegation and the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the conditions did not allow for the return visit. Castaldo revealed that it became evident before the mission's deployment that Zimbabwean authorities lacked the political will to adhere to the EU EOM's established methodology.

During the mission, the delegation faced unprecedented challenges, including difficulties in meeting with national-level officials despite repeated requests. For instance, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was only met once throughout the observation period, and the Chief Observer and European Parliament delegation were also inaccessible. Castaldo expressed surprise and shock at such behavior, describing it as unprecedented in his extensive experience as a politician, parliamentarian, and observer.

This marked the EU EOM's second observation of a plebiscite since the removal of Robert Mugabe, who had banned the delegation due to strained relations with the European Union. Following the release of a critical preliminary report, the delegation faced criticism from the government and state media, accusing them of meddling in the country's affairs.

Castaldo refuted these claims, asserting that the reports were based on lies and violated journalistic standards. He expressed concern that the government did not respond to the defamation campaign, despite its commitment to ensuring the personal safety of all EU EOM members on the ground.